Keir Starmer slams 'ghoulish spectacle' of Tories portraying themselves as Covid heroes

Keir Starmer has denounced the 'ghoulish spectacle' of Tory politicians writing books depicting them as Covid 'heroes'

The apparent attack on Matt Hancock comes as the former health secretary has denied claims he ignored care home testing advice in a cache of leaked WhatsApps.

The messages were shared with The Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who worked with the former cabinet minister on his memoir Pandemic Diaries.

Published in 2022 - before the launch of the public inquiry - Mr Hancock's book details discussions at the heart of government during the Covid crisis.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the Labor leader said "there are too many messages and too many unknowns", regarding the leak.

But he added: "Families across the country will watch this and the sight of books of political writing portraying themselves as heroes or selectively leaking messages, (this) will be an insulting and macabre sight to them. ".

Matt Hancock published his Pandemic Diaries last year (

Picture:

Getty Images)

Mr. Starmer also asked Rishi Sunak to ensure the Covid Public Inquiry has the resources to report by the end of 2023.

He said the inquiry, which has been given the power to compel ministers to give evidence, said it had already cost taxpayers £85m.

"So can the Prime Minister assure the House that there will be no further delay, that the inquiry will be given all the support it needs to report back by the end of this year? ?"

The Prime Minister stressed that there was a legal procedure to follow, that the investigation was independent and that it was important to "let them do their job".

"Rather than comment on piecemeal information, I'm sure he'll agree with me that the right way to look at these things is the Covid Inquiry."